(19)
(11) EP 0 701 228 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
03.07.1996 Bulletin 1996/27

(43) Date of publication A2:
13.03.1996 Bulletin 1996/11

(21) Application number: 95304970.7

(22) Date of filing: 17.07.1995
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6G06M 9/00, G06M 1/10, G06M 1/00
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB

(30) Priority: 24.08.1994 US 295197

(71) Applicants:
  • FORD MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED
    Brentwood, Essex CM13 3BW (GB)

    GB 
  • FORD FRANCE S. A.
    F-92506 Rueil-Malmaison Cédex (FR)

    FR 
  • FORD WERKE A.G.
    D-50735 Köln (DE)

    DE 

(72) Inventor:
  • Mansour, Tahir M.
    Livonia, Michigan 48150 (US)

(74) Representative: Messulam, Alec Moses et al
A. Messulam & Co. 24 Broadway
Leigh on Sea Essex SS9 1BN
Leigh on Sea Essex SS9 1BN (GB)

   


(54) Method and apparatus for counting flat sheets


(57) A method and apparatus for counting flat sheets (12) of specularly reflective material juxtaposed in side by side relationship including a source (20) of a parallel, collimated, beam of light (22) adapted for movement to shine on a finite point across sides (14) of a plurality of flat sheets (12) at a shallow, acute angle of incidence relative to the sides of the flat sheets such that the beam of light (22) is specularly reflected from the sides (14) of the flat sheets (12) except at one terminal edge (16) of each side (14) of the flat sheets (12) where the beam of light (22) is diffusely reflected, a sensor (26) for sensing light diffusely reflected from the terminal edge (16) of each of the flat sheets (12) and generating an output signal in response to the intensity of the diffusely reflected light, and a microprocessor (28) receiving the output signal from the sensor (26) and generating a numerical count of the flat sheets (12) over which the beam of light (22) has been moved.







Search report